Automatic milling machine



March3, 1970 v. A. PARK AUTOMATIC MILLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1968 I N VENTOR. V/cron A. PARK f/ ArromveY March 3, 1970' v. A. PARK AUTOMATIC MILLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1968 INPU 7' PRES-3W5 v DECODER I NVEN TOR.

ARK

V/eron A. P

FIG.6

Arranlvsr United States Patent 3,498,181 AUTOMATIC NHLLING MACHINE Victor A. Park, 7707 Danvers St., Lynwood, Calif. 90240 Filed Apr. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 721,233 Int. Cl. B23c 1/16 US. CI. 90-13 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Modern milling machines are frequently controlled or activated by a tape, which tape is an integral part of an electronic circuit and certain electronic elements in that circuit. To move the cutting tool in a desired pattern in order to transfer the operation of the machine from its tape control to a manual control is the purpose of this invention, and under the manual control the machine will function faster and more efiectively'than if it were under the control of the tape. Also it is possible to manually control the machine forcertain special purposes which are not included in the tape. in other words, the cutting tool of the machine might be required to cut an odd shaped pattern. My attachment can be afiixed to a standard tape controlled milling machine and can be activated or deactivated by means of a single switch, which is included in the electronic circuit of the milling machine.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel attachment to a milling machine, which attachment includes a multiposition switch which controls the automatic and the manual operation of the machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel addition to a milling machine which can be readily mounted on that machine with a minimum of time and eifort.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel improved automatic milling machine which includes a manually operated stylus which can control the cutting tool of the mill upon manipulation of a single switch.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel milling machine attachment of the character stated in which the tape control of the machine is deactivated when the manual control of the machine is activated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel attachment for a milling machine of the character stated which will operate either on a standard machine in which the table moves, or where the cutting head moves.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel attachment of the character stated which will provide a manualcontrol of the cutting head of the mill at any point in the automatic sequences of the machine, that is, either at the beginning of the cutting operation or at the end, or at any other time desired by the operator.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the milling machine with my attachment secured thereto.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of my attachment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of my attachment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the table portion of my attachment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting arm of my attachment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of a tape type milling machine and with my manual control attachment included therein.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a tape controlled milling machine which includes a frame 2 and a table 3 upon which the object to be milled is mounted. The milling machine also includes a cutter head 5, all of which is usual and well known in the art. The milling machine may be of the type in which the cutter head 5 moves under control of a tape, or the table 3 may move under control of a tape. Either type of machine is usual and well known. The pattern on the tape is transmitted to either the table 3 or the cutting tool 5 through an electroniccircuit, shown in FIG. 6, and which will be subsequently described in detail.

At times it might be desirable for the cutting tool 5 to cut an odd shaped pattern not included in the tape, as shown at '6. This pattern is mounted on a table 7 which is bolted to the table 3 by the arms 8 and 9. These arms securely fasten the table 7 in the same horizontal plane as the table 3, and also permit the table 7 to be entirely removed when desired. A substantially L-shaped arm 10 is bolted to the frame 2 and is positioned above and substantially parallel to the tables 3 and 7. The arm 10 includes a vertical slide structure 11, which again i a usual and well known structure in this art. This slide carries a stylus 12 which can be raised or lowered by the operator into the pattern 6, and is moved by the operator within the design of the pattern 6 which causes the cutter 5 to follow the pattern of the stylus 12, and manually controlling the shape of the design in the pattern 4 until the operator disconnects the stylus 12 and returns the machine to its automatic operation controlled by the tape. The stylus 12 is connected to a tracer valve 13 which is mounted on the arm 10 and is movable vertically to position the stylus 12 within the pattern 6. The tracer valve 13 consists of various valves which are actuated by the horizontal movement of the stylus 12. These valves activate the electronic circuit of FIG. 6-, which will be subsequently described.

Considering now the schematic wiring diagram of FIG. 6, a four-position switch 14 is provided and this switch determines the position and operation of the stylus 12'. The switch 15 supplies a ground position to energize the solenoid 16, and also provides ground for the reader stop "17. When the solenoid 16 closes it supplies power to the solenoid valve 18, and at the same time will interlock the solenoid 16 until the stylus '12 is fully retracted. The solenoid valve 18 will open the hydraulic supply pressure to the retraction cylinder 19 and the tracer valve 20. Pressure on the retraction cylinder 19 will move the stylus to its down position. When the tracer valve 19 reaches the bottom of its movement, the down limit switch 30 will close and will supply ground and closing solenoid 21. When the solenoid 21 is energized it will open the X, Y feedback loop drive. Also as the solenoid 21 is energized, the stylus energize lamp 22 is illuminated. The mill is now operating as a profile machine.

SWITCH IN THE UP POSITION The switch 15 supplies a ground to the reader stop 17. The operator now manually retracts the stylus 12, and the tracer valve 20 will remain in the down position until the stylus is fully retracted. When the stylus is retracted the switch 23 closes and activates the solenoid 24. The solenoid 24, in turn, operates the switch 25. The solenoid 24 removes the ground in the switch 25 allowing the solenoid 16 to open. The solenoid 16 will open the interlock 26 and removes the power supply to the solenoid valve 18. Spring tension in the tracer retraction cylinder 19 returns the tracer or stylus to the up position. As the stylus leaves its bottom limit the solenoid 21 opens, which closes the electronic feedback loop 27, and the stylus energized lamp 22 is also turned ofi at this time.

3 SWITCH 14 IN THE OFF POSITION This places the mill in the normal automatic operation under control of the tape.

SWITCH IN THE TAPE POSITION .20. Pressure in the retraction cylinder 19 will drive the stylus to the down position. When the stylus reaches the bottom limit of its movement, the limit switch 30* closes,

supplying a ground and closing the solenoid 21. When the solenoid 21 is energized it will open the X, Y feedback loop drive 27, and as the solenoid 21 is energized the lamp 22 is illuminated. The mill is now operating as a profile machine. When the profiling is completed the operator presses the stylus retract 23. When the stylus is retracted the solenoid 24 closes the switch 23. The solenoid 24 now removes the ground, which allows the solenoid 16 to open. The solenoid 16 opens the interlock switch 26 and removes power from the solenoid valve '18. Spring tension on the cylinder 19 returns the stylus to its up position. As the stylus leaves its bottom limit the solenoid 21 opens, which closes the electronic feedback loop 27.

IN OPERATION The operator merely manipulates a single switch 14 to any one of four different positions. The machine is controlled by the circuitry from the switch 14 to operate either as an automatic tape controlled mill or as a manually operated mill which is controlled manually by the stylus 12. The cutting tool of the mill thus can be caused to function either automatically under control of a punched tape or under the manual control of the operator and this is accomplished by the positioning of a single four-position switch.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a tape controlled metal working machine including a cutter head, a work supporting table below the cutter head, a tape, and an electronic circuit including the tape, an auxiliary table adjacent the work supporting table, means securing the auxiliary table to the work supporting table, a stylus positioned above the auxiliary table, means operatively supporting the stylus 4 i on the metal working machine, means operatively connecting the stylus to the metal working machine to control the same, and means to deactivate said controlling tape.

2. A tape controlled metal Working machine as recited in claim 1, and said means to deactivate said controlling tape including a manually operable switch in said electronic circuit.

3. A tape controlled metal working machine as recited in claim 1, and said means to deactivate said controlling tape including a manually operable switch in said electronic circuit, said switch being of the four-position type, including a position to include the tape and an up or down position of the stylus and an oil position.

4. A tape controlled metal working machine as recited in claim 1, and said auxiliary table being bolted to the work supporting table, and said tables being in the same horizontal plane. I I

5. A tape controlled metal working machine as recited in claim 1, and said means to deactivate said controlling tape including a manually operable switch in said electronic circuit, said auxiliary table being bolted to the work supporting table, and said tables being in the same horizontal plane.

6. A tape controlled metal working machine as recited in claim -1, and an arm attached to the metal working machine, said stylus being operatively mounted, on said arm, said arm being positioned above the auxiliary table. 7. A tape controlled metal working machine as recited in claim 1, and an arm attached to the metal working machine, said stylus being operatively mounted on said arm, said arm being positioned above the auxiliary table, and said means to deactivate said controlling tape including a manually operable switch in said electronic circuit. 8. A tape controlled metal working machine as recited in claim 1, and an arm attached to the metal working machine, said stylus being operatively mounted on said arm, said arm being positioned above the auxiliary table, and said means to deactivate said controlling tape including a manually operable switch in said electronic circuit, said switch being of the four-position type, including a position to include the tape and an up or down position of the stylus and an ofi position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,290,994 12/1966 Garrison et a1 9013.5

GERALD A. DOST, Primary Examiner 

